Coral Reef Fact: The Cubera Snapper (Lutjanus cyanopterus) is “oviparous, releasing pelagic eggs into offshore waters at spawning aggregation sites.” At these sites hundreds to thousands of fish meet to spawn. “The eggs hatch within a day of fertilization, producing pelagic larvae that are dispersed by the currents.” “Whale sharks are known to feed […]
Coral Reef Fact: The pilot fish (Naucrates ductor) has a mutualistic relationship with sharks, rays and sea turtles. These fish follow the larger creature feeding off of and removing their parasites and eating scrapes from their feeding. Fact source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilot_fish#cite_note-2 Join Reef Relief today and help protect our marine world. www.reefrelief.org/act/donate
by Blythe Copeland, Great Neck, New York Sometimes it takes the simple clarity of a child to change the world as we know it. Among all the social change, political maneuvering, and serious issues facing the environment today, there are plenty of savvy kids taking matters into their own hands: Coming up with plans to […]
Coral Reef Fact: Caribbean Reef Squid (Sepioteuthis sepioidea) are 1 of 6 species of “flying squid”. These squid “fly” by expanding their mantle which fills with water. They quickly contract their muscles to expel the water to propel themselves in any direction & sometimes times out of the water if they are startled or fleeing […]
Coral Reef Fact: The spinner shark (Carcharhinus brevipinna) is named for its feeding strategy. “When feeding on schools of forage fish, they will speed vertically through the school while spinning on their axis, erupting from the water at the end.” FACT SOURCE: Wikipedia Join Reef Relief today and help protect our astounding marine world. www. […]
Ocean Fact: Wahoo (Acanthocybium solandri) “are among the fastest pelagic” (open ocean)” species (reaching speeds up to 60 mph)”. FACT SOURCE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wahoo Join Reef Relief today and help protect our marine world. www.reefrelief.org/act/donate
Coral Reef Facts: Slipper lobsters are a family of decapod crustaceans found in all warm oceans and seas. Despite their name, they are not true lobsters, but are more closely related to spiny lobsters and furry lobsters.” They “are instantly recognizable by their enlarged antennae, which project forward from the head as wide plates.” This […]
Coral Reef Fact: Sea butterflies are small sea snails which float freely in the water with the currents. Their bodies have adapted to this existence, shrinking their shell & gills & the foot has become 2 wing-like lobes(parapodia) used to move it through the sea. Even though “their shell may be so fine as to […]
Coral Reef Fact: The Mahi-mahi or Dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus) “often change color among several hues ” after it is removed from the water “finally fading to a muted yellow-grey upon death”. Fact source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahi-mahi Join Reef Relief today and help support our amazing marine world. reeefrelief.org/act/donate
Coral Reef Fact: “6.5 million tons of litter enter the world’s ocean each year. 50% is long-lasting plastic that will drift for hundreds of years before it is degraded. 80% of marine pollution comes from land-based sources.” Fact source: http://oceaninfopack.worldoceannetwork.org/index.php?page=home&id=315&typepage=notype Check out this animated video of a sea turtle and marine debris http://www.tourdeturtles.org/flash/MarineDebris.swf Join Reef […]